Grizzlies adjust to loss of Allen

Grizzlies guard Tony Allen reacts after getting called for a flagrant foul by referee Mark Ayotte during the first half of Monday’s game against the Clippers in Los Angeles. The incident will bench Allen for Wednesday night’s game against the Warriors.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Grizzlies guard Tony Allen's last outing on the court was marred by an unintentional kick to an opponent's face and then tons of remorse afterward.

The victim of Allen's bizarre strike, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, was uninjured on the play. However, Allen's wallet took a beating Tuesday when the NBA suspended him for a game without pay as a result of the incident.

Allen will sit out the Grizzlies' game Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors — their final contest on a four-game road trip.

Memphis didn't practice Tuesday. But Allen reacted to the suspension with disbelief on Twitter.

"Wow," Allen wrote. "Accident Just being #Honest."

The incident occurred Monday night with 1:51 left in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' 106-102 win over the Clippers in Staples Center. Paul was driving through the lane toward the basket and Allen appeared to be anticipating that Paul would pass the ball.

Allen lifted his leg to kick the ball but struck Paul in the face. Allen received a Flagrant 2 penalty and was ejected after the officials reviewed the play.

"I did see the replay. In the midst of the battle, it was unfortunate for myself," Allen said. "I was trying to just make a play, leaving a great shooter like Jamal Crawford knowing Chris Paul's tendencies. He sees everybody that's open and you know, I accidentally kicked him in the head. But I'm pretty sure he knows that it was accidental, and that isn't my style of play."

Allen immediately attended to Paul and made sure he was OK after the blow. Paul said he knows that Allen wasn't intentionally trying to act like a karate kid on the court.

"I know Tony. He didn't do it on purpose," Paul said. "I went mute for a while, just because I hate getting hit in my lip more than anything. I just hate having a busted lip. But I know it was unintentional, and I didn't expect him to get ejected. I think he thought I was about to throw the ball to the corner so that's a natural instinct."

It is uncertain who Griz coach Dave Joerger will start in Allen's place although he likely will chose Quincy Pondexter or Mike Miller.

Warriors coach Mark Jackson is in a similar position given his starting point guard Stephen Curry will not play because of a mild concussion. Curry was hurt in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 98-87 victory at Utah on Monday night.

Curry's head hit the court during a scramble for a loose ball. He's averaging 19.9 points, 8.7 assists and 1.7 steals this season. The injury comes at a time when the Warriors are already thin in the backcourt. Toney Douglas, who has served as Curry's main backup, is out two weeks because of a stress reaction in his left tibia.

"Guys have to be ready, guys have to step up and embrace the opportunity, and we move forward," Jackson said told local media.

"It's a credit to our depth and versatility that we'll find a way to still get it done."

The Grizzlies have won 10 straight games overall against the Warriors, and are trying to sweep a four-game road trip. Memphis has won three in a row while Golden State has earned victories in its last four games. The teams last met Nov. 9 when the Griz dominated in a 108-90 victory in FedExForum. The Griz have averaged 103.4 points in the last 10 meetings. Who to watch? Randolph, who is averaging 25.3 points on 65.2 percent shooting and 12 rebounds during the Grizzlies' three-game winning streak. Memphis is 6-1 when Randolph scores at least 15 points. The Warriors are shooting an NBA-best 46 percent from three-point range. They'll be without starting point guard Stephen Curry (concussion) and backup Toney Douglas (stress reaction, left tibia).